Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Reprinted with the permission of Larry Milberry of www.canavbooks.wordpress.com

Air Canada 747 Retrospective.

One of the great triumphs in aviation history since Day 1 goes by the simple name “Boeing 747”. You can learn all the basics starting with the Wiki 747 entry, then there’s a host of excellent books to read.

Also, a real “must see” is Sam Chui’s nostalgic YouTube video – 'The Last British Airways B747 Flight – An Emotional Farewell';  see 'Featured Video' section below.

Sam has done a bang-up job covering the recent retirement of the B-747 from British Airways.

From the "Horizons" magazine.

Winnipeg's Machine Shop got together to pay tribute to Lead Mechanic Ron Smith who retired after 28 years of service. During that time, Ron worked in Dorval and later Winnipeg.

From left to right: Jim Pirie, Ross Hudson, Manfred Wolff, Steve Fallon, Ross Watson, Jeff Page, Ted Puzio, Joe Reis, Ron Smith, Jon Maksymowicz, Ken Lodge, Dave Nash, Jacques Martineau (Dorval representative) and Sal Raquid.

Annual meeting celebrates Air Canada's 60th.

The past, present and future were all celebrated at Air Canada's 1997 Annual Meeting held in Vancouver.

Employees, retirees and shareholders were treated to a fond look back at the airline's past through a photo and memorabilia exhibit that spanned the six decades since Trans-Canada Air Lines' incorporation.

Each of the past 60 years was represented photographically, while three display cases exhibited a wide range of TCA artifacts, including glassware, china, model aircraft, reservations and ticketing items and, of course, the airline's 1937 annual report.

Flight attendants past and present wore vintage uniforms dating as far back as the 1940's.

Five members of the Canadian Maple Wings Association, an organization made up of Trans-Canada Air Lines and Air Canada flight attendants, helped out sporting their original stewardess uniforms from the '40's and '50's.

Air BC, Air Canada Cargo, In-Flight Service and Dreams Take Flight provided meeting attendees with an impressive array of displays that captured what each does best, while Rapidair feted its 25 years with apples and apple juice for all.

Our photo - These former and current employees of Air Canada elegantly display fight attendant uniforms from the airline past and present.

From left to right: Dorothy Stauffer (summer uniform 1941-47); Barbara E. Buchanan (current uniform); Patricia Gajo (summer uniform 1953-64); Joan Racey (summer uniform 1953-64); Rose Ann Mollard (summer uniform 1953-64); Mary Gordon (M. G.) Moir and Audrey Brandon (uniform late 40's); Barney Dick (summer uniform 1953-64); Rita Morgan (uniform 1964-69); Cory McAdam (uniform 1968-74) and Barbara Dunn (summer uniform 1953-64).

Team Effort for Dallas start-up.

These members of the "Open Skies Team" took part in the start-up operations for Dallas.

Editors' note: The photo below is a mirror image as is noticeable by the logo the background. 

From right to left: Kirt Douglas, United Airlines Customer Service Training; A.C. Zeller, Manager, Customer Service - Newark; Brian Colgan, Manager, Supply & Purchasing - Central, Atlantic Canada, U.S. & South; Georgina Cronin, RES Procedures Tampa; Frances Gerard, Customer Service Training - Miami; Mark Ballard, Maintenance Manager - Washington; Janet Ferguson, Manager, Customer Service - Houston; Kevin Stein, Customer Service Training - Toronto; Pat Moore, General Manager, Customer Service - U.S. & South and Ron Klein, Customer Service - Denver. 

The CP Air Communications Advisory Group.

Back row from left to right: Stan Sierpina; Larry Lehna; Jerry Kielmann; Jim Thirsk; Mike Gray, Observer; Tony Craig; Wayne Irving; Peter Partridge, Guest Speaker and Lorne Paterson.

Front row from left to right: Val Tearle; Nina Morrison; Georgia MacFadyen; Tom Laurie; George McRobbie; Sherann Broder, Secretary, Al Bingham; Frank Healy; Jack Webb; Golfer Extraordinaire Cum Founder.

Missing from photo is Peter Golding, CP Air News Editor.

Two New Year's Eves brought double kisses for DC-8 Captain Cec McNeal from stewardesses Ina Laesecke, left, and Kumi Miyama, as Althea Young, left, and Eileen Suen kibitz behind.

Situation resulted from crew crossing Date Line on December 31, 1963 Hong Kong-Vancouver flight. Photo was used to publicize Orient route, received wide coverage across Canada and overseas.

On January 30, 1971, this was the view my family and I had from the windows at the check in desk at Sydney’s Kingsford-Smith airport of DC-8-63 CF-CPQ.

Obviously the flight to Fiji did not depart. The previous evening, the flight was cleared to land and at the end of the landing run was instructed to, “Take exit right. Switch to 121.7.” (the ground frequency).

The CP crew said, “Roger.” The controller saw the landing lights sweep towards the taxi way and turned his attention to the other end of the runway, granting a Trans Australian 727 permission to take off.

With the Australian accent, the CP crew misheard the direction as, “backtrack if you like,” and turned 180 degrees and began to backtrack on the runway. When the two captains realized they were going to collide, the DC-8 powered up and turned toward the grass. The 727 rotated and got airborne. The underside of the 727 hit the vertical stabilizer of the DC-8, breaking it off. 

The Australian pilot lost much of his hydraulics and immediately declared an emergency, telling the controller he had hit the DC-8. The CP crew steered back to the centre line and noticed landing lights of another plane on approach to land. 

Norm Foster shares his "Memorable trip" with us -

It started with an aperitif to wet the appetite, followed by Beluga Caviar and Vodka. An appetizer featuring lobster tails was nicely completed when the Silver Trolley Service offering a prime rib of beef ready for carving arrived.

The earlier selected Beaujolais Superior complemented this main course and lastly the pastry tray arrived along with French champagne. Satiated, Susan unfastened her seat belt and made her way up the circular staircase to visit me on the B-747 flight deck, and to say goodnight, before turning in. Sleeping for the remainder of the trip, when she was awakened for breakfast, we would be descending into Paris.

First Class service on a B-747 Atlantic flight was very special and was an appreciated upgrade for Susan, through the welcomed discretion of the In-Charge-Flight Attendant and crew. Paris being the favorite city for both of us, she would, on occasion, join me in what amounted to a 2 day mini vacation to Europe.

This particular flight was partly to make up for a previous trip gone wrong. Sometime earlier we had planned the same trip and Susan had joined me in the 1 1/2 hour drive to the airport.

Unfortunately, at departure time, the aircraft was completely full and my fallback position of having her ride on the flight deck was unavailable due to it being occupied by my students. Pushback from the gate with Susan waving forlornly from the departure lounge was made worse knowing that she now faced the 1 1/2 hour drive back to Niagara, alone. I had some making up to do.

This reparation trip went smoothly with Susan firmly ensconced in First Class and following her goodnight visit to the flight deck, I relaxed and looked forward to our time in Paris. The attraction of the City of Lights was very familiar to us, but we never tired of its charms. Re-visiting the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, Rodin’s Museum, L’Orangerie et al, once again filled our days and the bistros and cafes our stomachs. For us, just wandering the streets and boulevards of Paris is enough, and yet, never enough.

Our 2 days drew to a close and we were spending our last evening on the balcony of our Paris Hilton hotel room, which faced the Eiffel Tower, 2 short streets away. We had just toasted another wonderful Paris visit when it began.

The most spectacular display of fireworks, centered on the Eiffel Tower and rivalling anything on this side of the Atlantic. Although as surprised and awe struck as Susan, I quickly recovered and presenting my glass again for toasting, offered…. “I arranged this display for you to atone for the trip you missed!”

Epilogue:

It took Susan (and I) a few moments to realize that the fireworks were in celebration of Bastille Day. I had to share the cause for this amazing display with the French Revolution. 

Norm Foster

Larry Milberry of www.canavbooks.wordpress.com has suggested this excellent 22 minute video from Sam Chui.

"The Last British Airways B747 Flight - An Emotional Farewell"

Editors' note: Little known fact - maybe - after the merge between BEA and BOAC, the name on the 747 had the name "British airways" - note the lower case "a" in airways.